Julia Kooi Talen
tissues of stippled time
raindrops made rhythm on
sheet water as i
lost my longing
for you
:
the blue
bird with the red
belly sung too,
on mushy rose
:
thistle the air & my
skin mixed oil & gasp
when i almost stepped
on the crawdad,
:
crimson on
gravel be
neath a long
toed foot
:
i wept for the seconds
& thirds of limit, for
jewelweed hiding
the aging snappers
:
my womb
emptied the wan
ing, made in
visible song
:
with the elder
oaks, i miss
crushes and hair
:
i miss the thin parts of my
ago,
the tobacco,
the time
it all took.
Julia Kooi Talen is an essayist and poet based in the Midwest where she teaches creative writing, composition, and literature. Currently a PhD candidate in creative writing, Talen lives with their cat, Otis and holds an MFA in creative writing from Northern Michigan University as well as an MSW from the University of Denver.